Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Digital advertising is claiming bigger and bigger share of the global advertising market with every year that passes. And within the digital sector, more and more advertisers are getting to recognize mobile а preferred medium to deliver attractive content and to target a wider range of consumers. In Sweden, digital has already taken over as […]

The field of this year’s edition of the WPT L.A. Poker Classic $10,000 Championship was whittled down to just 13 contenders from a 493-strong field. Dennis Blieden, a player with two previous live tournament cashes, will be leading the pack of survivors into the penultimate day of WPT action at the host venue, Commerce Casino.

Blieden is a Los Angeles-based player. As mentioned above, his HendonMob profile shows only two previous in-the-money finishes in live poker events. They were both tournaments on the schedule of the World Series of Poker.

Being one of the 13 finalists, Blieden has already secured a minimum payout of $57,300 from the WPT LAPC Main Event to boost his current poker bankroll of a little less than $22,000. What is more, the player has a real shot to win his first WPT Main Tour Main Event.

Blieden bagged and tagged 2.88 million at the end of Day 4, which was played on Tuesday at the host venue. The player was the only one of all three survivors to pass the two-million mark and is well ahead of his fellow contenders. Toby Lewis had the second largest chip stack when play concluded last night, bagging a total of 1.76 million. Derek Walters rounded out the top three of the chip counts chart last night with 1.501 million.

Former WPT Champions Still in Contention

One-time WPT winner Zachary Smiley is going for his second title from the series. The player ended Day 4 with the shortest stack, but has every chance to improve on Day 5. Anthony Zinno, holder of three WPT titles, is also still in contention.

If he wins the event, he will become the first player in WPT history to hold four Main Event titles from the series. At present, Zinno is tied with Gus Hansen, Carlos Mortensen, Darren Elias, and Chino Rheem, with each of them being winner of three titles. Zinno bagged and tagged 1.024 million last night and is in the middle of the chip counts chart for Day 5.

Here it is also important to note that he can also become the first player ever to win the same WPT Main Event twice. Zinno captured his first LAPC Main Event title in 2015.

Play is set to resume today at noon local time at the host casino. As mentioned above, each of the 13 finalists has locked a minimum cash of $57,300 from the series. The remaining survivors will play down to official six-handed final table. That concluding stage of the tournament will take place on Thursday, March 1, at the host venue. The finalists will play until a winner is determined. The last person standing will receive a first-place prize of $1 million, a seat into the WPT Tournament of Champions, and a fancy Hublot watch.

Hungary’s law on the allocation of licenses for the operation of brick-and-mortar casinos and that relating to the grant of licenses for the provision of online casino services are incompatible with EU’s treaty for the free movement of services across the union, according to the Court of Justice of the European Union.

In a statement from earlier today, Europe’s top court detailed its latest ruling on Hungary’s gambling regulations, saying that certain provisions in these were contradicting established EU-wide laws.

CJEU’s ruling was related to a case brought by UK online gambling operator Sporting Odds. The operator had previously been found to have provided online gambling services in Hungary without a license from local regulators.

The Hungarian court, in turn, turned to CJEU to rule whether the country’s existing regulations for the provision of games of chance at brick-and-mortar facilities and via the Internet were in breach of EU regulations.

Hungary’s Gambling Law and CJEU’s Latest Ruling

Under Hungary’s gambling regulations, only operators of land-based casinos across the country are able to obtain licenses from local regulators to provide online casino games. CJEU ruled today that that particular provision in the country’s gambling law represents a “radical restriction” of EU treaties for the free movement of services across Member States.

Europe’s top court also pointed out that Hungary’s gambling law discriminated international online casino operators without physical presence in the country and prevented them from entering the local market.

Hungarian gambling regulations contain provisions for the organization of calls for tender for interested operators. However, the country has not launched any such calls, as noted by CJEU. The court further pointed out that another provision that required operators to be present in the local market for at least a decade so as to be eligible for a license without having to participate in a call for tender further disadvantaged international companies.

CJEU issued a similar ruling in a case involving major online gambling operator Unibet last summer. Unibet had been fined by Hungarian regulators for providing unlicensed gambling services to local players. The operator, in turn, brought the issue to court, arguing that Hungary’s gambling regulatory framework put it at a serious disadvantage to local gambling operators and seeking to have the penalty dismissed.

CJEU ruled that the Hungarian Tax Authority could not impose fines as the country’s restrictive gambling system was not compatible with treaties for the free provision of services within the European Union.

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Ainsworth Game Technology is one of the leading brands which provides the Australian market with sloth machines and many entities seem to rely on its services. Information was issued this Tuesday that the net profit performance of the company has seen a plunge in the first half of its financial year 2018 amounting to some […]

Officials for labor union UNITE HERE Local 54 and casino operator Hard Rock International have signed a “card count neutrality” agreement, the Press of Atlantic City reported.

The agreement could help the union return at the former Trump Taj Mahal casino resort, which Hard Rock is currently converting into what would be Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City. The property is scheduled to be reopened in June.

Under the agreement between Local 54 and Hard Rock, the operator should agree as an employer to recognize the labor union as the official “bargaining agent of the employees” if a third party confirms that the greater number of employees have signed UNITE HERE Local 54 membership cards.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City is currently taking shape at the site of Trump Taj Mahal, once owned by US President Donald Trump. The lavish casino resort closed doors in the fall of 2016 amid a workers’ strike involving Local 54 members. They picketed the property for over a month, asking to have their previous health insurance and pension packages restored. In the early 2010s, workers gave up on certain benefits to save the ailing Trump Taj Mahal from bankruptcy.

The property was owned by New York businessman Carl Icahn back in 2016 when it was shuttered. Mr. Icahn blamed the closure of the hotel and casino complex namely on the strike, arguing that it had hurt Trump Taj Mahal’s profitability beyond repair.

New Job Opportunities

The closure of Trump Taj Mahal left 3,000 people unemployed, including 1,000 Local 54 members. The property was purchased by Hard Rock International in the spring of 2017 for a reported price of $50 million. The Florida-headquartered casino operator pledged a $500-million investment into the India-themed resort, promising to convert it into a typical Hard Rock property, replacing its iconic minarets with rock’n’roll features.

The redevelopment project is expected generate over 1,000 jobs during construction and more than 3,000 jobs once fully operational.

Under the “card count neutrality agreement” Unite 54 local members, who were previously employed at Trump Taj Mahal, could return to the redesigned property.

Under the neutrality clauses of the agreement between the labor union and Hard Rock, the latter has agreed not to prevent its staff members from joining Local 54, if they wish, and the Union and its members have agreed not to disrupt their workplace through strikes and similar initiatives.

In comments to the Press of Atlantic City, both parties have said that they were content with the agreement. Bob McDevitt, President of Local 54, praised the Hard Rock management, saying that the company seemed to understand how Atlantic City’s market worked. Hard Rock officials, in turn, pointed out that their work with the labor union would help them enter Atlantic City successfully.

Popular slots provider Tom Horn Gaming deals with Betconstruct to supply its full portfolio of titles to a new partner. As Tom Horn Gaming deals with Betconstruct, Tom Horn’s full portfolio of video slots will be made available to the industry-leading sports betting and online gaming software provider. Since Tom Horn Gaming deals with Betconstruct, such popular titles as Blackbeard’s ...

Ladbrokes, Paddy Power, bet365, and CrownBet Bid for William Hill’s Australian Gambling Business

William Hill has received four offers from fellow gambling operators for its Australian business, the Australian Financial Review reported on Monday. The winning bidder is set to undergo due diligence before the end of the week and is expected to assume control over the Sportingbet brand next month.

William Hill acquired the Australian and Spanish operations of Sportingbet as well as the Centrebet and Tom Waterhouse online wagering brands in 2013 for the total amount of £485 million. Last month, the British bookmaker announced that it was reviewing its Australian business and that its sale was under consideration.

It then became clear that William Hill has hired financial services firm Citi to set up a formal bidding process for its Australian operations and law firm Clifford Chance to guide the operator through the sale process.

It was understood that Paddy Power Betfair’s Australian business Sportsbet, Ladbrokes, and bet365 have all made offers for William Hill’s Australian betting brands, each valuing these at around A$200 million. According to the Australian Financial Review, Australia’s CrownBet was the fourth bidder. The online sports betting business of local casino operator Crown Resorts is itself in the middle of a change of ownership.

Late last year, Crown Resorts agreed to sell its 62% stake in the wagering business to a group of investors that included CrownBet’s CEO Matt Tripp. The deal was expected to be finalized by the end of February.

What’s Next for Tom Waterhouse?

As mentioned above, William Hill entered Australia in 2013 with the acquisition of the Sportingbet, Tom Waterhouse, and Centrebet brands. All three were led by popular Australian bookmaker Tom Waterhouse at the time. In 2014, Mr. Waterhouse was appointed CEO of William Hill’s Australian business.

His future is still unclear in case a sale takes place. However, many believe that the preferred buyer would likely keep Mr. Waterhouse on board due to his extensive experience and connections within Australia’s betting scene.

Mr. Waterhouse made the headlines a few years ago due to what many considered too aggressive promotion of his Tom Waterhouse online betting business.

According to analysts from Macquarie, William Hill’s Australian business currently represents a 5% share of the nation’s betting market. The company’s Australian operations have underperformed for several years now. It is believed that latest regulatory developments within the country’s gambling landscape have further encouraged the British bookmaker to reconsider its presence in Australia.

Several states have recently introduced or confirmed that they would introduce a 15% point-of-consumption tax that would require bookmakers to contribute tax money to the jurisdictions where they provide their services in and not just in the jurisdictions where they are licensed.

A recently introduced ban on credit betting further restricted operators in their efforts to acquire bettors. Under the latest amendments to Australia’s Interactive Gambling Act, bookmakers can no longer extend credits to betting customers. The click-to-call betting feature introduced by offshore betting operators to circumvent previous gambling regulations has also been banned under the recent amendments.

Monday, February 26, 2018

Casino operator Melco Resorts & Entertainment and its partner Cyprus Phasouri (Zakaki) Limited have begun searching for staff for their €550-million integrated resort, currently under development in the Cypriot city of Limassol.

The developers have recently opened the first job positions for people interested to work at the first casino resort in the Republic of Cyprus. The positions available include slot attendant, dealer, gaming machine supervisor, finance, security, and information technology vacancies. It is also important to note that Melco and its local partner are currently looking for staff for the four satellite casinos in Nicosia, Larnaca, Paphos, and the Famagusta area as well as for the temporary casino in Limassol that are all set to open doors later this year.

Melco has said on the official website of City of Dreams Mediterranean that it is looking for “proactive and passionate talent” to join its team in Cyprus.

The actual resort with the main casino floor is slated to be launched in 2021 in Limassol’s Zakaki area. City of Dreams Mediterranean, as the multi-use complex will be named, will also be located near the My Mall Limassol shopping center, which is known to be the largest property of its kind in the Republic of Cyprus. As mentioned above, a temporary casino will operate in Limassol, until the main gaming floor is finished.

Jobs and Increased Tourist Activity

City of Dreams Mediterranean is expected to generate 4,000 temporary jobs each year during construction. Once fully operational, the resort would employ more than 6,500 people directly and indirectly.

According to analysts, the mixed-use complex could bring an additional of 300,000 tourists each year. Melco has also recently pointed out that it would look to attract visitors all year round and thus turn the tiny Mediterranean nation into a tourist destination that does not rely heavily on seasonality. At present, Cyprus welcomes the greatest portion of international tourists in the period between May and October.

City of Dreams Mediterranean will be the first property of its kind to open doors in this part of Europe. However, it seems that the €550-million complex could face competition from another casino resort in the region shortly after its opening.

It has recently emerged that Greek developer Lamda Development, together with a group of international developers, is planning to build an $8-billion multi-purpose integrated resort near Athens. Among a number of other facilities, the complex will also include a casino floor.

Last week, Greece’s top administrative court gave the green light to the country’s gambling regulator to launch a bidding process for operators that want to run the casino portion of the mega-resort. According to previous reports from Greek media, Las Vegas giant Caesars Entertainment Corp. has been looking to join the scheme.

Macau is the largest gambling hub in the world and as such, it is prone to rapid turns of events, one of the recent ones involving Hong Kong-listed casino services firm Macau Legend Development Ltd. and its future plans for the development of its new location called Legendale Hotel which will be located at Macau […]

BetterBetting, a blockchain-based, decentralised peer-to-peer sports betting system, recently announced its eagerly awaited listing on the HitBTC exchange. HitBTC, a global trading platform with multi-currency support, has been operating as a major exchange since 2013. By trading volume, HitBTC has been consistently among the top 10 exchanges (24 hours trading volume at time of press: $431,266,065 USD). The exchange has ...

Sunday, February 25, 2018

Asgardian Stones™, the latest fantasy-based game from Swedish online casino games developer NetEnt, transports players into the mysterious realms of Nordic mythology and presents industry first crush features.
First announced in January, the second game release of 2018 from NetEnt is a 5-reel, 3-row, 20-bet lines video slot that can be played on all devices. The game is sure to set pulses racing as players experience the magical surroundings, as colossal stones guard the gates of Asgard, where only the bravest of warriors can dwell amongst the Gods.
One of NetEnt’s best-looking slots, the game includes the new Colossal Crush feature, an industry first, where colossal symbols crush rows of symbols underneath, with each row increasing the multiplier by 1 up to 4x, as well as an extra spin wheel that also crushes symbols and rows.
The Colossal Crush feature showcases the fact that NetEnt continues to lead the way in the world of online casinos, with gaming experience and innovative games.
A captivating Norse soundtrack immerses players into a game full of twists and turns as they try to overcome the colossal giant stones so that they may gain entry into the enchanted world.
Commenting on the release, Chief Product Officer for NetEnt, Henrik Fagerlund, said, “Our team has worked tirelessly during the process of designing and creating Asgardian Stones™ and really look forward to see the game finally out with players all over the world,” according to to the press release.
“The Colossal Crush feature is an industry first and only adds to the excitement this game offers, so we can’t wait to see the reaction from the gaming world as we continue our positive start to 2018,” said Fagerlund.
At ICE Totally Gaming 2018, NetEnt took the opportunity to showcase its new game, Gonzo’s Quest VR, the first web VR slot game to be released within the igaming industry, which was developed using real-time 3D. Billed as a "true omni-channel creation," Gonzo'z Quest VR is due to go live this summer.

The 2018 edition of the WPT L.A. Poker Classic $10,000 Championship kicked off on Saturday at Commerce Casino. As many as 475 entries registered for the prestigious tournament during its first day, but only 282 of them will progress into Day 2, which will be played later today at the host venue.

Action is scheduled to resume at noon local time and players who failed to join the field on Day 1 will be able to do that until the first break of Day 2 or around 1:45 pm local time. The tournament feature a freezeout format, which means that re-entries are not allowed.

John Misirian will be leading the start-of-the-day pack of contenders. The player assumed the chip lead at some point on Day 1 and cemented his position on the very last hand of the day by eliminating poker pro Sean Winter. Misirian bagged and tagged 234,300 worth in chips for the night.

The player comes fresh from a victory in an event that took place earlier during the ongoing LAPC poker festival. Talking with WPT staff, he said last night that that recent triumph had certainly built his confidence. Yet, he pointed out that one cannot be too confident, particularly in cases where the field is packed with poker professionals.

Feeling Comfortable When Playing with Good Players

Misirian revealed that playing with good poker players makes him feel more comfortable on the felt. The player went on to say that playing in an event that involves so many poker professionals provides opportunity to learn a lot.

According to his Hendon Mob profile, Misirian has a total of $268,377 in live tournament earnings. It can also be said that the player has mainly cashed in three-figure buy-in tournaments over the course of his career.

Day 2 of the $10,000 Championship will see the likes of Andy Frankenberger, Toby Lewis, and Richard Seymour take their seats after surviving the eight levels played on Day 1. However, former WPT Main Event champions Ryan Riess, Darren Elias, and Jared Jaffee did not make it through the day.

Registration will remain open through the first stages of Day 2, as mentioned above, which means that the field will certainly grow. Once registration closes, organizers will be able to calculate the prize pool and to announce the places paid and the first-place prize for the last player standing in the tournament.

Daniel Strelitz won the WPT LAPC Championship last year. The player bested a field of 521 entries to eventually scoop $1 million for his efforts. Streilitz entered this year’s event yesterday and survived through all eight levels to bag and tag 66,200 and secure a seat among the Day 2 participants. It is to be seen whether he will be able to win the exciting tournament for a second consecutive year. The Championship is set to be played through March 1.

Saturday, February 24, 2018

Las Vegas-based designer and manufacturer of gaming products for the casino industry, PlayAGS, Inc. (NYSE: AGS) recently announced that the company’s application to begin the sale and distribution of its Class III EGMs, along with its table game products, to commercial casinos statewide [Ohio], has been approved by the Ohio Casino Control Commission.
Commenting on the approval, President and CEO of AGS, David Lopez, said, "We are very pleased that the Ohio Casino Control Commission has approved our license application and are confident in our ability to grow our Class III and table game product businesses within this robust marketplace," according to the press release.
"This approval will allow us to leverage our already established relationships with many of the state's casino operators who are eager to begin offering our consistently high-performing products like OrionSM, ICON™, and Bonus Spin™.”
The Ohio Casino Control Commission oversees all commercial gaming statewide, including Penn National Gaming-owned Hollywood Casino Toledo and Hollywood Casino Columbus, and JACK Entertainment’s JACK Cleveland Casino and JACK Cincinnati Casino. The recent approval of its Ohio license sees AGS’ total license count increase to 257 different jurisdictions, a 102 percent spike in total available market opportunity since 2012.
Last month saw the Nevada Gaming Commission unanimously approved a registration order and an initial public offering (IPO) for what is the second-largest Class II slot machine manufacturer in the country.
The New York Stock Exchange welcomed PlayAGS, Inc. on Jan. 26, 2018, on its initial public offering and first day of trading on the NYSE.

Unibet Open London £990 Main Event Continues towards Day 1B of Poker Action

Poker festivals always deliver a roller coaster of emotions to their participants and the UK field witnessed the start of a culminating poker tournament this Thursday. The poker scene in the UK saw the official start of the riveting action provided by the 2018 Unibet Open London £990 Main Event Day 1A saw quite the […]

A Casino Could Secure Convention Center for Sunshine Coast, City Council Believes

The possibility for the addition of a casino as part of the Maroochydore Central Business District development project is still being discussed by the Sunshine Coast Council, despite recent comments by Mayor Mark Jamieson that a facility of this type was not on their agenda at the time.

In a letter to the editor of local news outlet the Sunshine Coast Daily, City Councilor John Connolly said that the Council still believes a project, including a casino, under Queensland’s Integrated Tourism Development program was the right path to “securing a regional convention centre”.

Cr Connolly went on to say that the Sunshine Coast Council does not have the means to build a convention and exhibition center as soon as it might wish and that they have to consider different ways to fund a project of this kind.

Local media reported earlier this week that the Queensland Government has confirmed it had promoted a visit by Malaysian casino company NagaCorp to Sunshine Coast. The visit took place last fall. Reportedly, NagaCorp executives and an architect, who had previously worked on the company’s existing casino resort in Cambodia, met the Sunshine Coast Mayor to discuss opportunities for a future partnership.

State Tourism Development Minister Kate Jones said earlier that the meeting taking place did not necessarily mean that a casino would be included in the Maroochydore CBD development project.

Boost to Local Tourism

In his letter, Cr Connolly wrote that Sunshine Coast does not have a large convention center that is paid for by the government, unlike other regions around the state. According to the City Councilor, a project that would include a gaming floor as well as different non-gaming facilities could significantly help the city fulfill its plan for a convention and exhibition venue.

He went on to say in his letter that the Maroochydore CBD development, if it includes attractive enough offering, would boost the region’s construction sector significantly and would then boost the region’s and the state’s tourism sector. The official also pointed out that the city should not rule out that quickly the opportunities that a casino could create.

The Queensland Government has not confirmed that the addition of a casino to the Sunshine Coast development project has been debated. On the other hand, Minister Jones has confirmed that she would visit the Sunshine Coast in March to discuss tourism opportunities with Mayor Jamieson.

Federal and state MPs have fired at the Sunshine Coast Mayor for his failure to end the casino debate once and for all by ruling out the construction of a gambling venue in the city. Mr. Jamieson said earlier this week that the decision about a casino is not within his or the City Council’s power and that such a decision can only be made by the state government.

Friday, February 23, 2018

UK-based online gaming software developer Bede Gaming has inked a partnership agreement with digital games provider for the online gaming industry, Pragmatic Play. The deal will reportedly see Pragmatic Play’s entire portfolio integrated into Bede’s premium platform, PLAY.
Every Bede operator will now have access to Pragmatic Play’s more than 80 HTML5 games, including Gold Rush, Chilli Heat, Caishen’s Gold, Vegas Nights and Jurassic Giants, according to the news release.
The integration of Pragmatic Play’s portfolio is in keeping with Bede Gaming’s expansion of its best-in-class content made available through PLAY. The developer has already inked several partnership deals with top content suppliers, including Playson and Gamevy, over the past few months.
Commenting on the deal, Bede Gaming CEO Michael Brady, said: “We are always looking to expand our offering to clients with the latest and most exciting titles, and integrating Pragmatic Play’s games was an obvious decision as we continue to combine premium content with our leading marketing tools.
“We look forward to enjoying a long and productive relationship with a provider whose games are already performing very well.”
Also commenting on the move, Chief Business Development Officer for Pragmatic Play, Yossi Barzely, said: “We have a strong commitment to growing our footprint in regulated markets, and are delighted to do so in partnership with a provider as respected as Bede.
“I am sure our diverse and expertly-modelled range of games will prove popular with their clients all over the world.”
Founded in 2012, Bede’s platform, along with stringent security measures, offer completely flexible gaming solutions and is making quick work of establishing itself as the go-to option for innovative operators worldwide.

Following ICE, Fair Play Bets’ agreement creates stronger entertainment destinations with Quickfire, powered by Microgaming. Fair Play Bets, operator of multiple reputable online casinos, has ramped-up its world-class offering on its VegasPlay.com and DiamondWorldCasino.com casinos by launching the Microgaming portfolio of games via the Quickfire platform. This new agreement underlies Fair Play Bets commitment to offering the most entertaining casino ...

Last summer, Tyler Groth captured his first WSOP gold bracelet for winning a $1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha event at Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Last night, the player captured his first WSOP Circuit gold ring for winning another Pot-Limit Omaha event, a $365 buy-in one, at the very same casino.

Groth defeated a field of 153 entries over two days of play to win the tournament, the precious gold ring, and the amount of $12,850 in prize money.

Winning two Pot-Limit Omaha events, one of which on the schedule of the legendary WSOP, it very much seems that Groth is a Pot-Limit Omaha specialist. However, the player himself does not think so. He believes that Omaha 8 is the game he actually excels in. After last night’s triumph, Groth told WSOP staff that he has not played Pot-Limit Omaha that much to realize how good he might be in the four-card game.

Two years ago, the player quit his daily job to pursue a career in poker. He moved to Las Vegas and has been playing both cash games and tournament poker at local casinos since then. Groth said that as of lately, he has been more active on the tournament scene. It is also important to note that online poker has been a long-time love of his. He even pointed out last night that he has built the greater portion of his poker bankroll namely online.

The player also said that even though he is planning to go to Los Angeles and participate in the LAPC Main Event, set to take place over the weekend, he might go back to Vegas to join the field of the first ever WSOP Online Circuit event. The online gold ring event is scheduled for February 27.

Groth’s Performance in the $365 Pot-Limit Omaha

As mentioned above, the tournament was played over two days and as part of the WSOP Circuit’s Rio stop. The final day of the event took place on Thursday with nine players left to sit at the final table when cards were thrown in the air.

Groth was the chip leader at that point with significant advantage over his remaining opponents. The eventual winner had nearly 600,000 in chips and was well ahead of his fellow player ranking second in the chip counts chart. That player was Andrew Dennis who had a total of 200,000 at the time.

Groth maintained his lead throughout the day to eventually scoop the title and the first-place prize. He faced Benjamin Thomas heads-up as his final challenge before the sweet victory. Thomas, a WSOP Circuit regular from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, collected $7,944 for his runner-up finish in the Pot-Limit Omaha tournament.

The event attracted 153 entries who generated a prize pool of $45,900. The top 16 finishers received a share of the money.

Sweden’s regulated market was worth SEK17.07 billion (approximately $2.09 billion) in 2017, latest figures released by the Swedish Gambling Authority, Lotteriinspektionen, show. Regulated gambling operations recorded a 1% decrease from a year earlier.

Svenska Spel, the state-run gambling operator tasked with the operation of most regulated gaming and betting services in the country, generated revenue of SEK8.98 billion last year, about the same amount as it generated in 2016. It accounted for 40% of the country’s gambling market (both regulated and unregulated).

Combined revenue from Sweden’s regulated and unregulated markets amounted to SEK22.604 billion (approximately $2.77 billion), reflecting an increase of 3% from 2016. The country’s unregulated market was actually the main driver of growth last year. According to Lotteriinspektionen, unregulated operations generated revenue of SEK5.534 billion (approximately $678.5 million) last year, up 13% year-on-year.

Here it is important to note that the Scandinavian nation’s unregulated market is represented by foreign online gaming and betting operators that hold licenses from other EU and non-EU jurisdictions. At present, Sweden’s gambling law does not allow for such foreign operators to obtain licenses from the country’s Gambling Authority and regulated operations are only provided by several state-owned entities.

The growth of Sweden’s unregulated market could be attributed to several factors. In the first place, the tech-savvy population of the country has been looking for diversity that local operators may have failed to provide. And in the second place, foreign gambling companies have increased their brand exposure across Swedish media significantly over the past several years.

According to a recent report by local measurement firm Kantar Sifo, three gambling companies were among the country’s top 20 advertisers in 2017. Aside from the state-run Svenska Spel, Kindred Group (previously Unibet Group) and LeoVegas were found to have invested the most in advertising their products and services to Swedish consumers. What is more, LeoVegas was the company to record the biggest rise in annual ad spending last year.

Market Re-Regulation

According to a recent report by Swedish media research firm Mediavision, one in eight Swedes gambled on foreign gambling websites on a monthly basis in 2017. The reported figure represented a 25% increase from 2016.

Information about the popularity of international gambling websites among Swedish players emerges as the country is preparing for the upcoming re-regulation of the local market. Sweden’s new gambling law is set to come into effect on January 1, 2019. It will open the Swedish market for foreign companies, which means that these will be able to apply for and be issued operational licenses from Lotteriinspektionen.

Earlier this week, the Swedish Gambling Authority announced that it has been preparing the necessary documentation to open a license application process for interested gambling operators on July 1, 2018. The regulatory body said that it plans to release more details about the application process in mid-March and during a meeting schedule for May.

Thursday, February 22, 2018

A Nevada bankruptcy judge ruled Wednesday that the hotel of the Asian-themed Lucky Dragon resort off the north end of the Las Vegas Strip will remain open for another month.
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Nevada Judge Laurel Davis decided after a bankruptcy hearing for the Lucky Dragon Hotel and Casino that the hotel would remain open until March 27, when the next hearing will take place. The casino, however, will remain closed and there will not be a foreclosure auction, the judge ruled, according to local television station FOX5.
The resort’s operating entity Lucky Dragon Hotel and Casino LLC on Friday, Feb. 16 reportedly filed a petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection ahead of today's scheduled foreclosure.
The property had a brutal start when just a few months after opening, in order to cut operating costs, one of its restaurants was closed and about a hundred people including the general manager were fired, as reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal at the time.
The temporarily closing of all gaming and casino restaurant operations on January 4 further emphasized the then one-year-old Asian-themed boutique hotel and locals casino’s financial woes. At the time, the resort’s management reportedly told FOX5 that the casino was “reorganizing,” and that the temporary closure meant the laying off of casino workers and less gaming and dining options. A few weeks later in January the Lucky Dragon was served with a foreclosure notice.
FOX5 reports that during the bankruptcy hearing, attorneys for Lucky Dragon reportedly said that in November the property had been appraised at $143 million, however creditors stated that it was appraised at $60 million. Without disclosing specifics, lawyers for the hotel also reportedly said that should the Sahara Ave property become available for sale, there are a number of potential buyers.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported on Monday that according to bankruptcy papers, Lucky Dragon was appraised at $143 million, which was funded in part with $89.5 million worth of loans from 179 individuals who invested $500,000 each through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) administered EB-5 visa program. Under the program, foreigners seeking permanent green cards can do so if they invest a minimum of $500,000 into a business venture that creates at least 10 full-time jobs.
FOX5 reports that none of the attorneys were certain of how the immigration status of those individuals.
Five years in the making from concept to ribbon-cutting, Lucky Dragon had a soft opening on November 19, 2016, and hosted its official grand opening on December 3, 2016.

Playtech is one of the most recognizable names in the gaming industry, as the British software provider works closely with many gambling operators on a day to day basis. However, despite its popularity, the brand recently reported that the company has experienced slower growth rates in comparison to its performance throughout 2016. Even though there […]

Slovenia-based online casino software company, ORYX Gaming, recently launched Arenacasino.hr, one of the first Croatian iGaming websites featuring casino and slots, according to to the news release.
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The online gaming turnkey solutions provider also recently agreed a deal that will see it supply content from a selection of developers to two iGaming domains operated by Malta-based Quasar Gaming.

After a robust start in planning the Sports Betting & Gaming India 2018 Summit, Eventus International is only a week shy from the event dates. The Sports Betting & Gaming India 2018scheduled for the 27th& 28th of February 2018 at the Park Hyatt Goa Resort & Spa is at its last week of preparing for the summit and everyone is ...

The EU Court of Justice (CJEU) rejected earlier this week a petition filed by the Belgian Government against a set of recommendations for the protection of consumers of online gambling services and the prevention of minors from gambling online.

The recommendations were introduced by th European Commission in 2014 but the government of Belgium contested them in court, arguing that these were breaching each individual Member State’s right to regulate their online gambling market in a manner they found fit and to adopt player protection measures of their own choice. Belgian lawmakers further claimed that the European Commission had overstepped its authority by issuing the guidelines.

Earlier this week, the EU Court of Justice rejected the above claims and found that the European Commission had not exceeded its competence and that the set of recommendations had not interfered with Member States’ right to implement their own online gambling regulations.

The CJEU ruling affirmed a previously issued court decision by the General Court. The latter court dismissed Belgium’s case in the fall of 2015. The Belgian government will not be able to appeal the latest ruling further.

Why Has Belgium Contested the Guidelines?

The European Commission introduced the Commission Recommendation on principles for the protection of consumers and players of online gambling services and for the prevention of minors from gambling online in the summer of 2014. It was not legally binding and only aimed to present Member States with a set of guidelines for the effective protection of online gambling customers and the prevention of minors from being targeted and allowed to gamble online.

In October 2014, the Belgian Government filed against the recommendation, seeking its annulment by the EU’s highest court. As mentioned above, Belgian lawmakers claimed that the Commission had gone beyond its authority by introducing the guidelines and encouraging Member States to adopt them.

The Belgian government further pointed out that under EU treaties, the Commission did not have the authority to introduce “an instrument with harmonizing effect” in the online gambling sector.

It also emerged back then that concerns that the recommendation would lower the standards previously set by the Belgian Gaming Act stood at the heart of the country’s discontent.

The European Gaming & Betting Association, EGBA, welcomed CJEU’s ruling in a Tuesday statement. The Association also called upon the European Commission to encourage Member States to adopt its guidelines, to review for any gaps in their implementation, and to take corrective action if needed so that high level of consumer protection across the European Union is achieved.

Based in Brussels, EGBA is the industry body representing online gambling operators based and licensed within the European Union. Its member list includes bet365, Betsson, Kindred Group, and GVC Holdings, among others.

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

The Sports Betting & Gaming India Summit 2018 (SGBI), will be held on 27 & 28 February 2018 at the beachfront luxury 5-star Park Hyatt Goa Resort & Spa, India.
We outlined and defined the potential market that is poised to offer explosive opportunities in a June 2017 special report, Emerging Markets: Sports Betting & Gaming India. As the date is fast approaching this is a 'last call' to operators, providers, and support services companies to make plans to attend this groundbreaking event.
Event organizer Eventus-International has spent nearly a year assembling a panel of over forty industry experts and speakers. This virtual brain trust will share knowledge and lead discussions that will focus on every crucial aspect of gaming and betting in preparation for the eventual legalization and regulation of the activities in the home of the world's largest democracy.
The agenda will inform in detail on the current situation in the country where potentially hundreds of millions of people bet and gamble illegally with only lotteries and horse racing operating in the daylight. Key stakeholders will examine the case for legislation and regulation with an emphasis on consumer protection, responsible gambling, and the commercial opportunities that would result from a robust legal framework that ensure betting integrity.
The platform was designed to facilitate a candid and open debate and discussion on the future of all forms of betting and gambling in the country.
Earlier this year, the Law Commission of India produced a public report mandated by the Supreme Court to study the possibility of
legalized betting in India. They noted that leaving gambling out of their consideration might make the entire exercise futile as the two are so closely related.
The report stated in part: "The recommendation made by the Committee that betting should be legalized by law, involves the enactment of a Law which is a matter that may be examined by the Law Commission and the Government for such action as it may consider necessary in the facts and circumstances of the case." (PDF)
Among other issues that the Commission stated needed further study were whether legalized betting and gambling would lower the incidence of illegal activity in the country and if foreign betting and gambling companies should be allowed to 'have a foothold' in India.
While the summit is focused on the Indian gaming market rather than the global marketplace, participants are registered from around the globe, showing the great interest in tapping what may become one of the last greenfield opportunities left. In order to make investment decisions, business leaders need to know the current situation as well as what the future holds in India.
Eventus International Managing Director, Yudi Soetjiptadi said: "With participants from countries like Australia, Malta, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Germany, South Africa, Taiwan, Philippines, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Latvia, United Arab Emirates, India and many more; SBGI will indeed be a global platform for the gaming market in years to come."
Eventus International is an independent professional event producing company that specializes in exhibitions and conferences across Asia and Africa.
For more information on the Sports Betting & Gaming India Summit 2018 please visit http://www.sportsbettingevents.com/sbgi-home.html

By the time the month of was February Hard Rock and GiG had big news to break to the world. Hard Rock International, the owner of one of the world’s best recognized brands is entering into a strategic partnership with Gaming Innovation Group (GiG) to build a brand new online casino. Well, Hard Rock is used to taking ambitious projects ...

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) protested against sports betting legalization efforts. The opposition of the non-profit organization regulating US athletes of more than 1,200 conferences, institutions and individuals comes at a time when the discussions about sports betting industry legalization have been brought as one of the paramount issues in the country’s gambling industry […]

Preparation works are in full swing in the gambling hub on the East Coast, Atlantic City. This summer is expected to welcome two renovated and rebranded locations which will join the already existing casino resorts in the vivid area. But before the official launch could take place, several steps need to be finalized on time […]

Monday, February 19, 2018

Nolimit City goes live on LeoVegas.com, the multiple-award winning and leading mobile operator. As Nolimit City goes live on LeoVegas.com, Nolimit City games will be showcased on LeoVegas.com and will be included in their ever-growing portfolio of premium mobile slots games, following a distribution deal established in 2017. LeoVegas has agreed to release Nolimit City games through the established platform, ...

Malta is known as the online gambling hub of Europe which is always looking for ways in which to improve the iGaming industry and provide more opportunities for development to its licensees. Financial Services Parliamentary Secretary Silvio Schembri stated that the country is well on its way to becoming the first jurisdiction to have its […]

Swedish Player Viktor Blom Wins Big at partypoker LIVE MILLIONS Germany Main Event

One of the long-awaited poker tournaments in King’s Casino came to a conclusion this Sunday and this was the partypoker LIVE MILLIONS Germany Main Event which brought quite the experience to everyone who played at it. The big winner of the tournament became Viktor Blom who is an accomplished poker player with long experience in […]

Sunday, February 18, 2018

In late January, the Nevada Gaming Control Board released its statewide gaming win statistics for last year, which reported a 2.8% increase for the state’s nonrestricted locations, from $11.26 billion in 2016 to $11.57 billion in 2017.
“Nonrestricted” properties are defined as any venue that has more than 15 slot machines. So while the report counts the big casinos, it doesn’t figure in the state’s more than 2,000 bars & restaurants, convenience stores and supermarkets that have some slots.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal made note of some interesting takeaways from the Gaming Control Board’s year-end gaming win report. Keep in mind that “gaming win” refers to the casino’s take, not the player’s.
Statewide, casinos on the Strip had the highest slot win percentage at 8.04%, which means that in 2017, casinos paid players 91.96% of what went in. The Boulder Strip in Southern Nevada, meanwhile, had the lowest win at 5.53%; the best for players.
The Nevada Gaming Commission defines the Boulder Strip to include the Boulder Hwy., as well as all of the casinos in the city of Henderson.
Downtown Las Vegas had the biggest change in slot win percentage since 2016, where it was up 0.28 points to 7.34% from 7.06%.
In Southern Nevada, Laughlin had the highest table game win percentage at 19.41%, while North Las Vegas had the biggest increase in win percentage at 14.97%, up 2.19 points from 12.78%.
By slot denomination, penny slots were the biggest revenue generator, for the most part, because the market is full of them. On 54,754 machines, the state’s Gaming Control Board reported win of $3.17 billion. The state’s 70,568 multi-denomination machines won $3.13 billion.
At 12.07%, Megabucks machines had the best win percentage on slots. The $25 slots were the best for players, with a win percentage of 4.97%.
There are still more blackjack tables on casino floors, with 2,582 statewide than any other table game. Roulette was a distant second at 457 wheels.
Blackjack managed $1.21 billion in win, an increase of 5.4% from 2016, with casinos at a 14.8% win percentage. The state’s 382 Baccarat games, which had a 12.7% win percentage, produced $1.15 billion, a 5.6% decline from 2016.
It might be worth a trip to the Boulder Strip for slot lovers.